Nick Fitzpatrick

DLA Piper

The sports sector in 2021 was fundamentally different from any other. Of course, the world was reeling and still looking for clarity across every facet of life, but the number of moving parts in sports made it a particularly fascinating arena in which to take part.

That was what made DLA Piper global co-chair of media, sport and entertainment Nick Fitzpatrick’s year such a fast-paced one. The football industry was core to Fitzpatrick’s work last year with a top-tier client list that included the Premier League, the English Football League, European football governing body Uefa. Meanwhile, a host of other top European leagues needed commercial advice to avoid disaster.

Beyond football, notable highlights from last year include Fitzpatrick advising the National Basketball Association on its African league launch, as well as advising the Rugby Football Union during the Six Nations £365m strategic tie-up with private equity house CVC.

This year is shaping up to be just as busy, with NFTs becoming an increasingly overt part of sports sponsorship, and Covid-19 guidelines changing by the day.